Engine-starting device.



E. J. TOMLINSON.

ENGINE STARTING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED NOV. n. 1916;

Patented Oct. 23, 1917.

HF I

lNL/EN 717 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD J. TOMLINSON, or NEWARK, ivEw JERSEY, ASSIGNOR r0 srm'rnonr ELECTRICAL COMPANY, or NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

ENGINE-STARTIN G DEVICE.

To all whom itmay concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD J. TOMLIN- soN, a citizen of the United States, a resident of Newark,'in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Engine-Starting Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to starting devices for engines such as internal combustion engines commonly used in the propulsion of automobiles and similar autovehicles.

The present invention has as one of its objects to provide a starter in Whiclrthe novel arrangement and cooperation of the various elements contribute to give a thorou hly dependable and automatic device.

nother object is the provision of a device of this character wherein an electric motor, through the agency of a driving member, is adapted to engage and positively drive a member operatively connected to the engine, and in accordance with this provision I have so designed my starter that the driving force is distributed and shared by members capable of resisting the stresses set up while the engine is being cranked. By thus employing a positive drive the use of all flexible and resilient means such as springs has been avoided.

Still another object is to secure a self contained and compact device, to be easily mounted in working relation with the engine, one in which. a well balanced system of working elements is adapted to be inclosed and protected against the liability of injury or interference in operation. These and other objects will be better'understood from a consideration of the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters of reference designate like parts in each of the respective views.

Figure l is a longitudinal elevation, partly in section, showing a portion of the electric motor used in the present embodiment, and

further illustrating the arrangement of the various elements associated with the driving member. In this View the driving member is seen to be In 1ts normal inoperative positi on.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 with the exception that the driving member is shown Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 23,1917.

Application filed November 11,1916. Serial Ive-130,797.

With particular reference to the draw- Ings, 1 is the armature of the driving motor having a plain shaft extension 2. It will be noted at this point that while I make use of an electric motor, I am well aware that any other suitable source of power may continued at one end of said motor it further provides an inclosure withinwhich is contained substantially the, entire driving mechanism. An end plate 4 is adapted to fit on the end of frame 3, being secured in place by suitable means as by bolts, one of which is shown at 5. Mounted uponthe shaft 2 at a point adjacent armature 1 is a spider or yoke 6, having arms 7 and 8 projecting radially from said shaft. Spider 6 isisecured to shaft 2 to rotate therewith by means of a key 9. A pin 10 passes through the hub of spider 6 and through shaft 2 to assist in holding spider 6 rigidly upon said shaft, and to prevent the tendency of any creeping motion. Fastened to spider 6, in a manner which will presently be described, are shaft members 11 and 12. These members as seen-are in the nature of bolts, having formed integrally therewith heads 13 and 14 respectively. At the other end members 11 and 12 have their diameter diminished to give the reduced portions 15 and 16. Said reduced portions of members 11 and 12 are adapted to pass through corresponding bores in the radial arms 7 and 8 respectively of the spider 6. The abrupt shoulders formedby the reduction in diameter of members 11 and 12 bear respectivelyagainst the faces of radialarms 7 and 8 to hold'said members against longitudinal displacement. Nuts 17 and 18 are then applied to the threaded ends of said members '12 are secured firmly in position.

Previous to the assembly just described, hollow sleeves 19 and 20 are passed upon shafts 11 and 12, being of such internal diameter as to be permitted of free rotary movement upon said. shafts as bearings, and being of sufiicient length to allow the endplay, between heads 13, 14 and radial arms 8 respectively, necessary to the rotary movement for which said sleeves are adapted. The external surfaces of sleeves 19 and 20 are provided with spiral gear teeth 21 and 22, the function of which will hereinafter be described. Upon sleeves 19 and 20 and at theends thereof remote from the spider 6 there are mounted spur toothed pinions 23 and 24. Said pinions are of like diameters, each having the same number of teeth, and are suitably fastened upon the corresponding sleeves as by keys, one of which is shown at 25, whereby sleeves 19 and 20 are constrained to participate in the rotation of pinions 23 and 24 respectively. In the central portion of end plate 4 is a boss 26 with a circular recess passing therethrough and adapted to aline with the axis of shaft 2. 27 is a hollow spur gear member having a hollow sleeve 28, which sleeve is adapted to fit into the said recess in end plate 4. A key 29 cooperates with keyways in both sleeve 28 and boss26 to hold the pinion 27 stationary. A threaded washer 30 engages the threaded end of sleeve 28 and seats up against the boss 26, and thereby prevents any danger of said pinion working loose. When so assembled and secured in position pinion 27 is in meshing engagement with inions 23 and 24, whereby when said pinions are revolved. with spider 6 about the axis of shaft 2 as a center, they also receive an axial rotation by virtue of their tooth en agement with stationary pinion 27.

oming now to the description of the driving member, there is seen to be a hollow pinion 31 having an integrally formed hollow sleeve 32 projecting laterally from the inner face thereof. Said hollow pinion and sleeve provide a circular recess which extends through the entire length of the driving member, and is of such diameter that said driving member is adapted to fit upon the shaft 2 for a sliding longitudinal motion with respect thereto. The hollow recess in pinion 27, previously referred to, is of a size necessary to accommodate sleeve 32 for both axial and rotary movements. Secured fast to the inner end of sleeve 32 by some suitable means such as a shrink fit and a key 33 or an alternative arrangement such as a. key, taper and nut on the end of said sleeve is a gear member 34. Said gear 34 is ada ted to mesh with both of the spirally tootlred sleeves 19 and 20, and accordingly has its surface provided with spiral teeth to correspond with the teeth on said sleeves. Disposed about shaft 2 and preferably adjacent spider 6 is a resilient means 35 in the form of a coiled spring, whose function it is to absorb the shock as the driving pinion 31 is thrown to its home position subsequent to the starting of the engine. Said spring is of such resiliency and is so proportion of the engine fly wheel having teeth thereon which is adapted to be engaged and driven by pinion 31. However, it will be understood that said pinion may engage any suitable member operated by the engine without deviating from the intended purose. p Considering the operation of my improved starter and assuming the engine to be at rest, and the driving member of the starter in its inoperative position, as shown in Fig. 1, suppose it is desired to start the engine. A suitable source of power such as a storage battery (not shown) is applied to the motor armature 1. As said armature and its shaft 2'begin to rotate, the spider 6, being fastened to said shaft, rotates in unison therewith. Consequent to such rotation the shafts 11 and 12 with their corresponding sleeves 19 and 20 and tooth pinions 23 and 24 all revolve in a circular path about the center of shaft 2 as an axis. Since the gears 23 and 24 are in continual mesh with stationary gear 27,, and since the sleeves 19 and 20 are loosely mounted upon shafts 11 and 12 respectively, to which sleeves gears 23 and 24 are correspondingly fastened, it will be evident that as the several elements revolve about the axis of shaft 2 pinions 23 and 24 together with sleeves 19 and 20 will further be required to rotate upon their respective shafts 11 and 12. In the meantime the sleeves 19 and 20 being in spiral tooth engagement with pinion 34 of the driving member, a thrusting force is imparted to said pinion which moves the pinion 34, sleeve 32 and pinion 31, comprislng the driving member, axially along the shaft While driving pinion 31 is thus-being advanced it also receives a rotary motion, due to the action of said spiral thread engagement, which serves to insure a proper mes ing of said pinion 31 with the gear teeth on engine wheel 37. Pinion 31 continues to advance along shaft 2 until it has reached its position of complete mesh with the fly wheel. At this point the outer lateral face of gear 34 has come in contact with stationary gear 27 and being prohibited from further axial motion said gear is driven by sleeves 19 and 20 to drive pinion 31 and thereby the engine wheel 37. When the engine has performed the necessary number of cycles to start of its own accord the engine member 37 will rapidly accelerate and acquire a velocity greater than that at which it was driven by pinion 31 while the engine was being cranked. The engine is now tending to drive the pinion 31 and consequently the thrusting action between pinion34 and sleeves 19 i and 20 is reversed which results in'withdrawing the driving pinion 31- from engagement wlth fly wheel 37. As the'engine is apt to pick up very rapidly the driving member s thrown to its home osition with c0nsiderable impulse. To e inate any danger of injur' to the starter, buffer member 35 is designe to receive the impulse of said throw and thereby absorb the shock attendant to the disengagement from the engine member. It-will be observed that in my starter I have employed the so-called sun and planetary system of gears in which pinions 23 and 24 are adapted to revolve about gear 27. By' this arrangement the inions' 23 and 24 furnish the rotation of s eeves l9 and 20 necessary to advance pinion 31 into engagement with the engine, and also the driving force necessary to the cranking, of said engine. While the spider 6 is shown tohave but two arms each fitted-with a spiral and spur toothed-member as described, it willbe understood that, if desirable, any suitable nuniber of such elements may be carried by said spider. By a proper proportioning of the various gear. members'inmy starter any desirable mechanical advantage may be given the motor.

While I have shown but one embodiment of my invention, which typifies a starter of the outboard. 'beari-ng class or one in which the starter pinion draws away from bearing, it is evident that-by a suitable arrangement of gears the reverse operation may be secured. Neither do I care to limit myself to the exact details shown as it is apparent to those skilled in the art that many changes and alterations may be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention and scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my-invention what is claimed is 1. In an engine starting device including in combination with a member operated by the engine, an electric motor having an an mature shaft projection, a driving member mounted upon and actuated by said shaft projection for the purpose of driving said engine member, a power transmitting member mounted upon said driving -member, gear wheels spaced from and adapted torevolve with said motor shaft and coacting with the said power transmitting member to move the driving member into driving engagementwith said engine member.

2. In an engine starting devioe'including in combination with a member operated by the engine, an electric motor having a. shaft projection, a driving member mounted upon said shaft and adapted to move axially with ber mounted upon said driving member, gear wheels spaced from and adapted to re gaged from said flywheel. respect thereto, a power transmitting memvolve with said shaft and coacting with the said power transmitting member to move said driving member into driving engagement with the engine member and also to furnish a driving connection between the driving member and said shaft projection.

3. In an engine starting device including in combination with a member operated bythe engine, a motor having a shaft projection, a driving member mounted upon and ada ted to move axially withrespect to said sha projection, a power transmitting member mounted upon said -.driving member, gear wheels spaced from and adapted to revolve with said shaft projection and coacting with the said power transmitting member to automatically move said driving member into and out of driving engagement with the engine member.

4. In an engine starting device including in combination with a member operated by the engine, a motor having an armature shaft projection, a driving member mounted upon and adapted to move axially with respect to said shaft projection, a power transmitting member mounted upon said driving member, spiral gear wheels spaced from and adapted to revolve. with said shaft projection and coacting with the said power transmitting member to automatically engage and disengage said driving member with the engine member and also to furnish a driving connection between the driving member and said shaft projection.

57in an engine starting device including in combination with an engine operated member, a motor driven shaft, a driving member driven thereby for the purpose of riving said engine member, gear members spaced from and supported by said shaft and adapted to revolve therewith, said driving member having a gear member meshing with each'of the first gear'members, whereby when said. shaft operates said first mentioned gear members revolve in a path about said driving member gear to move said driving member into operative engagement with the engine member.

6. In an engine starting device including in. combination with the. engine flywheel, a motor driven shaft, a driving member mounted upon said shaft and having a gear wheel thereon, a spider secured to said shaft,

gear members supported by said spider in mesh with said gear wheel and adapted to revolve in a path about said gear wheel when the motor shaft is rotated, whereby said driving member is moved into and out wheel, and means to absorb the impulse of the driving member when the same is disen- 7. In an engine starting device including in combination with a member connected to the engine, a motor driven shaft, a driving of driving engagement with the engine fiymember having a gear wheel and being mounted upon said shaft for longitudinal movement relative thereto, a spider fixed to said shaft and having stub shaft members thereon, gear members mounted upon these stub shaft members and cooperating with said gear wheel of the driving member in such a way that when said motor shaft rotates said driving member is automatically advanced into driving engagement with the engine member.

8. In an engine starting device including in combination with an" engine operated member, a motor driven shaft, a spider fixed upon said shaft for rotation therewith, stub shaft members securely fastened to the arms of said spider, toothed sleeves rotatably mounted on said shaft members, pinions securely mounted upon said toothed sleeves, a stationary gear supported by the motor frame and meshing with said pinions, a driving member mounted upon said motor shaft and having a gear wheel adapted to mesh with said toothed sleeves, whereby when said motor shaft is rotated said toothed sleeves are actuated to move said driving member into driving engagement with the engine member.

9. In an engine starting device including in combination with an engine operated mem-. ber, a motor driven member adapted to engage and drive said engine member, means including a stationary gear for causing said motor driven member to engage with theengine member, said stationary gear serving also as a bearing for said motor driven member.

10. In an engine starting device including in combination with an engine driven member, a motor driven member adapted to engage and drive said engine member, means including a gear member for causing said motor driven member to engage with the engine member, said gear member serving also as a bearing in which said drivingmember is adapted to slide while passing into said engagement with the engine member.

11. In an engine starting device including in combination with an engine operated member, a motor driven shaft, a driving member driven by said shaft and adapted to engage and drive said engine member, means including a stationary gear for moving said driving member'to engage said engine member, said stationary gear also serving as a bearing for the driving member and the driving member serving as a journal for said shaft.

12. In an engine starting device including in combination with an engine operated member, a motor driven shaft, a driving member driven thereby and adapted to engage and drive said engine member, means cooperating with the rotation of said shaft and including a gear member to automatically move said driving member into engagement with the engine member, said ear member servmg also as a bearing in w ich said driving member isadagted to o rate as a sliding journal ,for'sai motor riven shaft.

13. In an engine starting device including i operating with said stationary gear'and driv mg member whereby said driving member is moved into and out of driving engagement with the engine member, and a resilient member to receive the impulse of said driving member when thrown from said engagement with the engine member.

14. In an engine starting device including I in combination with a member operated by the engine, a motor, a shaft driven thereby,- a supporting member secured to and adapted to rotate with said shaft, a stationary gear supported by the motor frame, a driving member mounted upon said shaft for longitudinal movement relative thereto, means carried by said supporting member and cooperating with said stationary gear and driving member whereby said driving member is moved into and out of driving engagement with the engine member.

15. In an engine starting device including in combination with a member operated by the engine, a motor driven shaft, a supporting member secured to and adapted to rotate with said shaft,-power transmitting members rotatably mounted upon said supporting member, a housing for said supporting and power transmitting members, a driving member having a gear within said housing and a gear exterior of said housing, a stationary gear supported by said housing, said power transmitting members cooperating with said stationary gear and also with the gear of said driving member within said housing to move said exterior gear of the driving member into driving engagement with the engine member.

16. In an engine starting device including in combination with. a member operated by the engine, a motor driven shaft, a driving member mounted thereupon for axial movement relative thereto, means including a stationary gear for causing said driving member to move into operative engagement with said engine member, said stationary gearserving as a bearing for said motor driven shaft and also as a stop for the axial movement of said driving member.

17. In an engine starting device including in combination with the engine fly wheel,

an electric motor having an extended armathe frame of said motor, the spiral gear ture shaft, a driving member mounted upon members of said spider cooperating with the said shaft and adapted to move axially with spiral gear of said driving member, and the respect thereto into'and out of driving enspur gear members on said spider cooperat- 5 gagement with said fly Wheel, a spider ing With said rigidly fixed gear to move said 15 mounted upon and adapted to rotate with driving member into engagement'with the said shaft, spiral gear members carried by engine fly Wheel. said spider, spur gear members carried by In Witness whereof I aflix my signature. said spider, a spiral gear carried' by said 0 driving member, a spur gear rigidly fixed to EDWARD TOMLINSON. 

